Virginia Native Fir Trees, Abies and Pseudotsuga

Fir Trees of Virginia

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There are two varieties of Abies balsamea, one being typical of the species, var. balsamea, and the other being var. phanerolepis. For this article, we will discuss the species as a whole.
A slow growing tree species, the oldest individual trees are typically not more than 200 years old. Reaching 40 to 60 feet in height and 1 to 1.5 feet in diameter, a single trunk supports whorled branches. The ...more

Photo Gallery

Foliage of abies balsamea consists of many short needles

Abies balsamea seeds are light brown and have one large wing

Abies balsamea is native to only an isolated population in the north central part of Virginia

Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poiret
THREATENED IN TENNESSEE
Height: 45-55 ft
Diameter: 1 ft
Showy flower: no
Fall colors: no-evergreen
Drought tolerant: Low
Annual rainfall: 45-100 inches
Soil Needs: shallow, rocky
Frost Free Days: 90
Minimum Temperature (F): -23
Growth Rate: moderate
Shade tolerance: tolerant, stunted
State List: GA, NC, TN, VA
...more

Fraser Fir, named after

Scotsman John Fraser,

has a moderate growth

rate, only hitting 20 feet tall

by age 20, and can live

between 100 to 150 years

of age. It has a single

trunk which supports its

classic Christmas tree

pyramidal shape. Needles

of Abies fraseri are deep

blueish green, flat and .8 to

1.5 inches long. The root

system is shallow and

rarely reaches ...more

Photo Gallery

Seeds of Fraser fir are small, slightly triangular and have a single, brownish gray wing to aid in wind dispersal.

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Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.)
Height: 40-60 ft
Diameter: 1-1.5 ft
Showy flower: no
Fall colors: no-evergreen
Drought tolerant: low
Annual rainfall: 13-60
Soil Needs: moist, rocky
Frost Free Days: 80
Minimum Temperature (F): -43
Growth Rate: slow
Longevity: 200 years
State List: CT, IA, IN, MA, MD, ME,
MI, MN, NH, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT
WI, WV

The state distribution maps in the species info boxes below are from the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database at plants.usda.gov. In instances where state specific maps are unavailable, the US distribution map will be used in its place. Also, the PLANTS Database website states "Our county data are based primarily on the literature, herbarium specimens,

and confirmed observations. However, not all populations have been documented, so some gaps in the distribution shown above may not be real. Remember that only native and naturalized populations are mapped!"

Also included in the Pine family, Pinaceae, are the genera Larix (Larch), Picea (Spruce), Pinus (Pine), and Tsuga (Hemlock).

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Fir Trees, Abies and Pseudotsuga